Electric switch.



Patented May 11,1915.

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' ona'nnns .1. KLEIN, or MILWAUKEE, Wiscons n, ASSIGNOIB. TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER use. 00., or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A conroaarron or Wisconsin.

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Application filed August 8, 1912. Serial No.'718,048.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mil waukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being Other objects and advantages of my in vention will hereinafter appear.

In order to clearly and fully disclose my invention, I have illustrated one embodiment of the samein the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the form herein illustrated is susceptible of modification.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the assembled device when connected in circuit. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the switch and switch casing. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of .the rotary commutating member. Fig. 5 is a. plan view" on line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view on line 6+6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a diagram of the circuit connection of the switch.

The switch herein illustrated is of the feed through type wherein two similarly shaped insulating bases 1 and 2 are inclosed within a feed throu h receptacle and connected by a central 3 eeve 3, a revoluble circuit controlling -member 4 being mounted upon said sleeve between said bases and being provided with contacts 5' arranged to en age the contacts 6 carried by said bases.

' he bases 1' and 2 are substantially diskshaped and provided with annular recesses 7 in their ad acent faces, which recesses-surround the' central bore through' which the sleeve 3 is passed., The bottoms of these recesses are provided with inclined or ratchet faces, as shown in Fig. 6, four ratchet faces which extend through in opposite'directions to the outer faces of the bases and are there attached to terminal plates 10 carrying binding screws 11. As-shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the ends 12 of the sleeve 3 are; overturned on the outer faces of the bases adjacent the binding screws and are secured to the bases by sinking the overturned portions into the insulating material.

The revoluble operating member 4 is car- 'ried upon the sleeve 3 between the bases 1 and 2 and is substantiall disk shaped, having a slightly larger ra ins than'the bases 1 and 2. The memberyl is provided with annular recesses 13 in its upper and lower faces registering with the recesses 7 in the adjacent faces of the bases 1 and 2 and cooperating therewith to form a plurality of annular chambers surroundingthe sleeve 3. In the annular recesses 13 are housed the contacts 5 which are resilient and bent into substantially U shape and connected together at their inner ends by suitable screws or rivets 14. As shown in Fig. 4, the recesses 13 form an inner wall 15 which serves to insulate these contacts from the sleeve 3. When this revoluble member 4 is in position upon the sleeve 3, as shown in Fig. 2, and is rotated, the contacts 5 carried thereby engage the stationary contacts 6 in a prede-' termined order. Due to the conformation of the stationary contacts and the resiliency of the movable contacts, the latter successively make and break contact with the former with a quick snap action.

In Fig. 7 I have diagrammaticallyillustrated the circuit connections for the de- Patented May 11, 1 91 5.

vice when adapted to control a plurality of heating coils- 16 and 17. It is to beunderstood that two conductors are attached to the upper binding posts 11, while one conductor passes through the sleeve 3 and is tapped ln'between the two heating coils 16 and 17, the opposite ends of which are brought up to the bottom binding posts 11.

When the member 4 is rotated so that one of its sets of contacts engages with the diagonally opposite upper and lower contacts shown in Fig. the circuit is either established through the coil 16 or the coil 17. If desired, these coils may be given different values so that different heats may be obtained. It is to be noted that when both sides of the movable contacts 'are in engagement with both sets of the stationary contacts, the two coils are connected in parallel. Obviously, the desired connections of the coils may be obtained by successively rotating the member 4.to the desired position.

The switch mechanism is inclosed in an improved receptacle of the feed through type. Cylindrical casings 18 are attached to each end of the bases 1 and 2 by beading or spinning them upon the same as at 19. Removable caps 20 are preferably carried upon the ends of these casings, catches 21 being provided upon the casings which are adapted to snap over annular shoulders 22 upon the caps. In order that these caps may be released by compressing the casings in a well known manner, recesses 23 are provided in the periphery of the bases beneath the same. The caps 20 are preferably provided with insulating linings 24 and in sulating sleeves 25 in the conductor openings which have annular flanges 26 arranged to hold the linings in position.

It is to be noted that in my improved construction the parts are securely held together by means of the sleeve and that when the revoluble member is rotated the circuit is broken with a quick snap action. Further, the terminals of the device are readily accessible, it only beingnecessary to remove the caps when it is desired to change the connections. The whole device is so inclosed as to fully protect the contacts and to present a neat and pleasing appearance. The revoluble contact member is conveniently located so that it may be readily adjusted. By suitably indicating the several positions of the same upon one of the parts of the receptacle as shown in Fig. 1, this contact member also serves as a visual indicator of the condition of the switch. The whole device may be very readily and cheaply manufactured and is of a rugged construction.

While I have described one form of my invention in order to clearly and fully disclose the same, I do not restrict myself to the exact construction shown for the purtary annular recesses, a plurality of contacts on said bases and said member within said recesses, and a tubular sleeve extending through said bases and said member and holding the former against separation and relative rotation and affording a conductor passage therethrough.

2. feed through electric switch comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced insulating bases, a rotatable insulating member therebetween, the adjacent faces of said bases and said member having complementaryannular recesses, a plurality of stationary contacts in said base recesses arranged in the form of ratchets, a plurality of resilient contacts in the recesses of said member adapted to make and break circuit between said stationary contacts in a predetermined sequence upon rotation 'of said member and a tubular metallic sleeve insulated from all of said contacts for holding said bases against relative separation and rotation and constituting a passage for a conductor therethrough and through said member.

3. In an electric switch, in combination, a plurality of insulating bases, a rotatable member therebetween, the adjacent faces of said bases and said member having complementary annular recesses, a plurality of contacts on said bases and said member within said recesses, tubular means forming the axis of said member and holding said bases against separation and relative rotation, a resilient casing rigidly secured to each of said bases, and a removable cap for each of said casings adapted to be snapped over the ends of the latter.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two wit nesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN. Witnesses:

E. L. ROCKWELL, FRANK H. HUBBARD. 

